Why don’t cyclists stop at traffic lights?

[Esceptico]

Actually I am more interested in why cyclists don’t jump red lights when they are driving (I frequently see cyclists going through lights - the majority actually where I live - yet I almost never see cars drive through red lights, even when the road is clear and it would not be dangerous).

Is it because so many cyclists do it that we all feel entitled to? Or that we feel it isn’t worth obeying something that most people don’t? If a lot of people started to drive through red lights would more people stop bothering to follow the rules?

I suppose if you think about it, it is surprising that most people follow almost all the rules of the road (except for speed limits but even with speed limits most people only break them slightly).

[Super Sonic]

A lot of traffic lights aren't designed for bicycles. If you stop, the sensors won't recogni8 you and the lights will stay red.

[ecs]

Same reason as the car drivers who don't stop at red lights.

[standards]

Sense of ecological moral superiority?

[stinkyspanner]

I prefer it when they jump red lights because it means I'm not stuck behind them when the lights go green.

[Jaguar99]

I don’t know why they do it but I suspect a variety of reasons including all those above

When I am on my bike I stop at lights but I try and avoid main roads and big junctions anyway so rarely come across any lights

What really bugs me is when I am driving a coach. I often have to wait behind a bike before there is room to overtake on for them to jump the next red light while I am stopped and I have to wait to overtake them again. In some central areas of cities this can repeat itself half a dozen times going from light to light before either the bike or me turns off

Do these cyclists like having a big coach come past them several times while their rule breaking causes me hassle and delays everyone onboard?

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

Probably because they can't/won't get a fine (and points) for it. I'm sure if they had to have some kind of licence then cyclists would obey a few more of the road rules.

[Trif]

I personally wait in line with cars in traffic/at lights. But I do see why some, particularly commuters do skip them when there is a safe break in traffic. As a pedestrian, do you always wait at the red man? Or cross when the road is clear?

[boyse7en]

I always stop at red lights whether on my bike, motorcycle, or car. Hth

[uncinqsix]

Matt_E_Mulsion said:

Probably because they can't/won't get a fine (and points) for it. I'm sure if they had to have some kind of licence then cyclists would obey a few more of the road rules.

Because licencing clearly stops car drivers breaking road rules

I can't say I've noticed any higher incidence of cyclists breaking rules than any other road user, and the evidence seems to support that. If you're the sort of person who thinks rules don't apply to you, then you'll break them whatever type of vehicle you happen to be operating.

In terms of people who've nearly killed me with their vehicular fkwittery, 100% have been driving cars/trucks.

[magpie215]

Probably because too many car drivers decide to park in the cyclist advanced stop box...

[Esceptico]

uncinqsix said:

Because licencing clearly stops car drivers breaking road rules

I can't say I've noticed any higher incidence of cyclists breaking rules than any other road user, and the evidence seems to support that.

Interesting article but research in Denmark. I suspect doing it in Auckland would give different results.

[uncinqsix]

Esceptico said:

Interesting article but research in Denmark. I suspect doing it in Auckland would give different results.

Have you seen the average Auckland driver's attitude towards traffic lights?

The Danes are obviously better behaved on bikes than average, but I would be surprised if repeating the study here showed that cyclists were any worse than car drivers.

[OMITN]

Sadly health issues curtailed my cycling days.

This is a normal bias in vehicle drivers - because they see some cyclists jump red lights (bikes are small and can filter effectively so they go past you while you’re in a line of queuing cars) they assume car drivers never do it. Why? They’re in a car and wouldn’t do it themselves. It’s just confirmation bias making you believe it is.

I’ll leave you with this OP: on average I used to cover around 8,000 miles a year by bike and would see much more red light jumping by vehicle drivers than cyclists. When you’re on a bike at a junction when the lights are changing or have just changed you know exactly how vulnerable you are when two or three cars decide that a recently changed red (not even amber) is permission to jump through.

Feel free to lobby for cyclist to be licensed, but only once annual deaths and injuries caused by vehicles are down to the same level caused by cyclists eh?

[Donbot]

Opportunity and unlikely to get caught.

If cars could get to the front of every queue you'd see a lot more red light jumping.

[Trif]

OMITN said:

Feel free to lobby for cyclist to be licensed, but only once annual deaths and injuries caused by vehicles are down to the same level caused by cyclists eh?

And ubiquitous cycle infrastructure that can be used for an entire journey. Not just some of it that is poorly thought out and stops when things get tricky.

[anonymous-user]

Esceptico said:

Actually I am more interested in why cyclists don’t jump red lights when they are driving (I frequently see cyclists going through lights - the majority actually where I live - yet I almost never see cars drive through red lights, even when the road is clear and it would not be dangerous).

Is it because so many cyclists do it that we all feel entitled to? Or that we feel it isn’t worth obeying something that most people don’t? If a lot of people started to drive through red lights would more people stop bothering to follow the rules?

I suppose if you think about it, it is surprising that most people follow almost all the rules of the road (except for speed limits but even with speed limits most people only break them slightly).

From someone who has ridden a lot over the years (and who does stop for red lights): IMO the jumpers fall into two camps. First the unfit who find setting off from a standing start crushingly hard work, and who prefer to maintain momentum. Second, the ones in a manic hurry - sometimes couriers (but less so these days), mostly people who look like they’re running late and are riding like they stole it.

Both camps do it because there are virtually no consequences - almost never a policeman waiting to nab you and almost never done so stupidly as to get hit by a car. Unfortunately the jumpers rarely seem to consider the possibility of taking out a pedestrian.

[monthou]

I do.
The obvious answer is lack of consequences though.
Is it a big problem where you are?

[Dnlm]

I live in London, skip some, not others.

Definitely do it because I know I won't get caught (although actually have been! Ironically when skipping a red at t junction with totally closed road, stopped me for a bit).

Traffic lights are designed to mitigate the massive danger of vehicles, and lack of awareness that come with blind spots and speed. It's very hard to patiently sit at a pedestrian crossing or empty junction when you know you can roll through at 10mph perfectly safely to yourself and others

See a lot of dangerous jumping , and it's impossible to say mine is "safe" Vs the deliveroo guy I saw filtering through sides of 4 lanes of green light traffic in Holborn gyratory yesterday, but that made me wince significantly.

Also, the lack of respect for cycling infrastructure makes it hard to respect car stuff. Most of my danger moments come from big vehicles going into solid cycle lanes, or mopeds in the bike box doing silly things 0.005 seconds after the lights go green.

[Bilkob]

I cycle most days, and a lot in urban situations. I religiously stop at lights, crossings , wherever the Highway Code requires me to do so. It’s not hard. I figure we all have to share the road, so let’s all just obey the rules and help each other to get where we’re going. I still get general abuse from some car drivers, they’re not to know how I behave, it’s depressingly predictable. It rarely bothers me, but I’ll admit, I don’t really appreciate people using 2+ tons of metal as some sort of threat to me. As a car driver, just have a quick think about how that feels on the receiving end, regardless of ‘blame’……..